Raiders' Crabtree upset he was forced to sideline on game-deciding play

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OAKLAND — Receiver Michael Crabtree was still searching for an explanation after the Raiders’ 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday why he was being evaluated for a concussion as the biggest play of the season was beginning to unfold.

Crabtree, the Raiders’ biggest playmaking receiver in goal-line situations, was in the tent on Oakland’s sideline as quarterback Derek Carr scrambled out of the pocket attempting to score a touchdown. Carr lunged for the goal-line pylon with the ball in his hand before he fumbled through the end zone for a touchback with 31 seconds to go.

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Crabtree fell awkwardly to the ground just two plays before the fumble, as he was fighting to make a catch inside the Cowboys’ red zone on a deep ball thrown by Carr. Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis was called for pass interference, giving the Raiders the ball on the Cowboys’ 15 with 44 seconds left.

Crabtree was still in the game for the next play, as Carr’s attempted throw to him in the end zone fell incomplete. At that point, though, he was taken out of the game, even though he said he felt fine.

“I’m good, that’s why I was pissed off,” Crabtree said. “It was the last play of the game and I’m trying to win. It’s cool. I can’t doing nothing about it.

“I’m still trying to figure out why they took me out.”

Crabtree’s removal from the game left Carr and the Raiders scrambling.

“We actually had a play called, a certain play called on the other side and then the refs made us take (Crabtree) out,” Carr said. “And then we had to change our call.”

Did Crabtree, who already had touchdown receptions of 2 and 1 yards, feel he could have made a difference on the game-deciding play?

“I can’t even answer that question, because they took me out and I’m pissed off,” said Crabtree, who finished with seven catches for 39 yards. “I can’t do nothing about it.”